Eggs are rich in vitamins, minerals, and high-biological-value protein. For a child's growth, its nutritional quality is second only to breast milk, making it the best choice for complementary foods. But don't be fooled by this small egg; there's a lot to consider when feeding it to a child.
1. Don't use steamed egg custard alone as a complementary food
Infants and toddlers get most of their energy from carbohydrates, but eggs contain almost none. If they only eat eggs, some of the protein will be converted into energy, which not only fails to utilize protein's growth-promoting effect but also increases the metabolic burden. Therefore, when feeding your child steamed egg custard, you should add some carbohydrates, or mash the yolk and mix it into rice cereal or rice porridge to increase the utilization rate of protein.
Original Steamed Pumpkin and Egg Custard
2. Don't feed the yolk as the first complementary food
The absorption rate of iron in egg yolks is 3%, much lower than that in lean meat and animal liver (20%). The yolk is also one of the allergens for infants and young children. Therefore, complementary foods starting at 6 months should not include egg yolks. It is recommended to start adding them between 7 to 9 months, gradually increasing from 1/4 of a yolk to a whole one.
3. Don't eat egg whites until after 8 months
An infant's digestive system is not fully developed. The protein molecules in egg whites can pass directly through the intestinal wall into the bloodstream, causing a series of allergic reactions or allergic diseases, such as eczema, urticaria, and asthmatic bronchitis. It is recommended to add egg whites after 8 months of age.
4. Don't eat undercooked eggs
Raw eggs not only pose a risk of Salmonella contamination but also contain two harmful substances: avidin and antitrypsin. The former affects protein digestion and absorption, while the latter can bind with biotin in food, leading to biotin deficiency in the body, causing symptoms like mental fatigue and muscle soreness. Therefore, eggs for babies must be fully cooked. The best method is to boil them for 7 minutes after the water comes to a boil. If boiled for more than 10 minutes, the protein structure of the egg becomes tighter and harder to digest. Methionine will break down into sulfides, which react with the iron in the yolk to form iron sulfide, which is not easily absorbed, resulting in significant nutrient loss.
5. Avoid fried eggs
High temperatures can cause some of the egg protein to char, destroying lysine and other amino acids and reducing their nutritional value. After consumption, the charred protein is less likely to mix with digestive fluids in the mouth and stomach, which can affect the baby's digestive system.
Eggs are nutritious, but more is not always better. Generally, for children aged 1-2, about 40 grams of protein are needed daily. In addition to regular food, adding 1-1.5 eggs per day is sufficient.